Annotated Bibliography

Question

QUEST53

Formal Paper 3: Annotated Bibliography 2-3 pages, due by 11:59 pm, 5/17 What is an annotated bibliography? First of all, a bibliography is another name for what we call the “Works Cited” page in an MLA-style paper. It is an organized list of sources that are referred to in a research paper, an academic journal article, or a scholarly book. As you know, this list is typically organized alphabetically by the authors’ last names. An annotated bibliography, then, is a list of works cited in which each item in the list is followed by an annotation, which is typically a paragraph of 100-250 words that summarizes and evaluates the cited source. The purpose of an annotated bibliography is to give the reader both an accurate summary of each cited source, and a critique of each source, an appraisal or evaluation of the source. Instructions 1. Choose a research topic. a. At the most general level, that means that deciding to research either Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, or Shakespeare’s Hamlet, or Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues,” or Ibsen’s A Doll’s House. b. But that is only the first step; next, you must narrow down your focus to more specific topics. 2. When you have determined your specific research focus, you are ready to start putting together your Works Cited list. a. Your list must contain at least two research sources, which should be from peer reviewed journals accessed through the CUNY library online databases. b. Once you have your list, you need to compose an alphabetized list or references, following MLA style. 3. Next, you should write a 100-250 word annotation for each research source cited. Each annotation should include both a descriptive summary of the cited source and a evaluation of the cited source. a. The descriptive part of the annotation, the summary, should give brief and accurate explanations or paraphrases of the following elements of the cited source: i. The author’s thesis (the main argument, the main interpretative claim) ii. The main points that the author makes to develop that thesis iii. The evidence supporting the thesis and main claims. iv. Quotations that illustrate some point particularly well, or exemplify an important aspect of the text, such its rhetorical style, or the kind of evidence the author presents. b. The evaluative part of your annotation may address questions including, but not limited to: i. Do you find the cited source interesting? Why or why not? ii. Does the author make a convincing argument? How convincing? Or are some parts convincing, but not others, and why? iii. Does the author present valid and sufficient evidence for her claims? iv. Did this text change the way you understand the primary text? How? v. How does this source compare to other sources in your annotated bibliography?